VETA graduates request loans for self-employment

MARIAM JUMA in Babati

GRADUATES at Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA) in Manyara have asked to be furnished with soft loans or working tools to self-employ.

The graduates said they were willing to set up small industries to go in line with the country’s vision of industrialisation, as well as emancipate themselves from unemployment shackles, after learning best ways at the college.

The vocation Students Government outgoing President, Mr Ernest Msumari, asked the government and other stakeholders to consider their request enabling them overcome challenges such as unemployment and business start-up lack of capital.

The graduates thanked the college and government as they learnt a lot from South Korean and German tutors in electronics, agro mechanics, welding and metal fabrication.

However, the students complained bitterly after graduating without doing fieldworks. The outgoing president asked for solutions to be found at the college so that students are in proper studying environment.

“There are shortages in classrooms as well as workshop the dining room is being used as a classroom. “This causes a lot of inconveniences to students as well as tutors,” Mr Msumari said.

He added that VETA Manyara faces shortage of learning equipment at the workshop, leading to tutors ending up with teaching in theory only. The VETA Manyara Head, Mr Felix ole Ndukai said that the college lacks enough field attachments in different disciplines.

On top of that the vocation had received many applications against its capacity. To address the situation in short term the college proposes evening programmes. During the graduation, 168 students completed their two-year courses out of 192 started.